Easel display assembly



June 17, 1969 v 'r. SMITH 3,450,420

EASEL DISPLAY ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 20, 1966 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR THOMAS R. SMITH ATTORNEY June 17,1969

Filed Oct. 20, 1966 T. R. SMITH 3,450,420

EASEL DISPLAY ASSEMBLY Sheet 2 INVENTOR THOMAS R. SMITH BY 2 /M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,450,420 EASEL DISPLAY ASSEMBLY Thomas R. Smith, 27A Brushy Hill Road, Newtown, Conn. 06470 Filed Oct. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 588,690 Int. Cl. A47b 23/00; B42d 3/00 U.S. Cl. 281-33 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to improvements in easel displays and more particularly to an improved easel display for use in looseleaf binders and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved easel display which is of simple compact construction easily inserted into looseleaf binders and which in use can be adjusted to a variety of display positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved easel display comprised of a pair of inserts for a looseleaf binder which can be mounted on the rings or loops thereof and which inserts cooperate to support the binder in any one of several easel display positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved easel display for use in looseleaf binders which is sturdy, low cost to manufacture, and provides for flip-around action.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the easel display;

FIGURE 2 is an edge view of a looseleaf binder with the easel display of the present invention therein and partially expanded;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a first easel display position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the slide panel in use;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing a different angle of inclinaton;

FIGURE 6 shows still another easel position;

FIGURE 7 shows a further display usage with inclination adjustability;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 88 in FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals apply to like parts throughout, it will be seen that I have provided an improved easel display 10 comprising a stand 12 and a slide 14 for use in a looseleaf binder 16.

The looseleaf binder 16 is shown by way of example, other binder constructions being usable with the easel display of the present invention.

The binder 16 includes a pair of stiff plastic front and rear cover panels 18, 20 respectively and three rings or loop forming elements 21 and a loop anchor strap 22. The latter is formed with three sets of openings, as at 24, 26 and the covers each have three holes therein as at 28 and 30, where three-rings are employed. For looseleaf usage each loop-forming element 21, which is a plastic ice strip having a head 23 at one end, is threaded through the components as follows. First, it is passed through the opening 24, one cover hole 28 and a corresponding cover hole 30, back through opening 24 on the outside of head 23 and then through opening 26. The strip can be adjusted in and out according to the number of sheets held between the covers.

The easel display components will now be described. The stand 12 includes three panels 32, 34, 36 of stiff, cardboard or plastic, material cut to the size and shape of the covers 18, 20. The panels 32, 34 have edge portions 38, 40 formed with openings at 42 and 44, respectively adjacent the edges 46, 48, and spaced according to the rings or loops above described. The panel 34 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is further defined by two sections that are adhered together. The third panel 36 joins the first two panels at their outer edges remote from edges 46, 48, the joints being hinged so as to allow folding thereat in either direction.

For example the hinges can be formed by plastic tape joining panel sections on both in and out sides.

The third panel is divided into three sections 52, 54, 56, section 52 being one-half the size of the third panel and sections 54, 56 each being one-quarter that size. All the joints between the sections are hinged for movement in either direction.

The panel 34 has a stiif flap 58 hinged thereto at 60 on an axis perpendicular to and extending from edge 48. The free end of said flap is joined to panel 34 by the relatively flexible member 62 (FIG. 7). The latter has two sections joined by hinge 64. Preferably the panel 34 has a recess 66 formed in one of the sections thereof which accommodates the flap 58 and folded flexible member 62, thereby forming a compact construction.

A retainer member 68 is stapled or otherwise secured to panel 34 and overlies recess 66 to releasably retain the flap therein.

The slide panel 70 constitutes a fourth panel, also of stiff stock and about the same size as panels 32, 34. Panel 70 has an extension flap 74 hinged at one edge 72 thereof. Three elongated slots 76 extend perpendicularly from the hinge edge 72 and extend into panel 70 approximately to the center thereof and into the extension flap 74 as well. The slide panel 70 is normally located between the rear panel 20 and panel 34 of the easel display, the extension flap that is joined to the side panel 70 in pivoted relation being normally located between the panel 34 and the panel 32. The flap 34 thus acts to positively locate the slide panel 70 in position between the rear panel 20 and the panel 34. 'In the assembly of the panels, the elements 21 which extend through the openings 42, 44 adjacent to the flap 58 also extend into the slots 76 as shown in FIG. 8, thereby hingedly connecting the panel 70 in the assembly. When the panel 70 is to be moved to the extension position as illustrated in FIG. 4 from that position illustrated in FIG. 3, it is lifted together with the panel 20 that lies thereover as seen in FIG. 3. Downward movement of the panel 70 is then accomplished, since the elements 21 project into the slots 76. Thus, the panel 70 can be moved relative to the elements 21, the slots 76 accommodating the elements 21 during the movement of the panel 70.

The center openings 78, 80 of panels 32, 34 are cutouts opening onto edges 46, 48. The flap 58 has a similar cutout opening at 82.

In use the looseleaf binder can be supported with panels 32, 34 inclined and supported on base panel 36 as shown in FIGURE 3. To change the angle of inclination, panel sections 54, 56 are folded together to shorten the base as shown in FIGURE 5.

As seen in FIGURE 4, where it is desired to have an extension of the inclined support surface, it is merely necessary to lift the panel 70 from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 and then slide it downwardly with respect to the panel 32 to the limit as permitted by the slots 76. In this position, the upper portion of the panel 70' extends above the upper edges of the panels 32 and 34 to form the extension of the inclined support.

FIGURE 6 shows an arrangement similar to FIGURE 3 but with the hinge FIG. 6 illustrates another position of the easel display 10, wherein the panels 70 and 34 are disposed in horizontal relation and the sections 52 and 56 of the panel 36 are folded on each other to locate the section 52 as a support for the panel 32. The panel 32, as shown in FIG. 6, is disposed in inclined relation for supporting the sheets S in a similar easel position, the sheets S being pivoted from the easel support position to an overlying position with respect to the horizontal located cover 20 at the base.

In FIGURE 7 the stand in compact form is on one side and the slide panel is on the other side of the ring edges. Flap 58 is extended as far as flexible member 62 will permit to support the binder assembly as shown. The angle of inclination can be varied by folding the flexible member as shown in dotted lines.

Accordingly it is believed that I have provided an improved easel display assembly for use in looseleaf binders which fulfill the objects hereinbefore enumerated.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the inventions is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that 'fall Within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by these claims.

I claim:

'1. In a looseleaf binder for receiving a plurality of looseleaf insert sheets for free pivotal movement therein about a hinge axis thereof, a cover panel, a rear panel normally spaced from the cover panel for location in parallel relation with respect thereto, spaced openings formed in said cover and rear panels in aligned relation and adjacent to said hinge axis, an intermediate easel support assembly normally located between said cover and rear panels and including a first support section, a hinge section hingedly joined to said first support section along a common edge thereof and a second support section hingedly connected to said hinge section along a common edge opposite to that which joins the hinge section and the first support section, said hinge section having a plurality of hingedly connected panels that are foldable to selected positions for locating said support sec tions in selected supporting position to define an easel-type support for said looseleaf sheets, said first and second support sections having aligned openings formed therein adjacent to said hinge axis, binder elements extending through the openings in said cover and rear panels and through the openings in said first and second support sections for mounting said first and second support sections and said cover and rear panels about the hinge axis for free pivotal movement relative to each other, an anchor strap located inwardly of one of said panels and having openings formed therein for receiving said binder elements in frictional relation, whereby said binder elements are secured thereto, and a slide panel normally located between said rear panel and second support section, said slide panel including a shortened pivotal extension flap joined thereto in pivotal relation and that is normally located between said second support section and said first section to retain said slide panel in position between said rear panel and second support section, a plurality of parallel spaced slots being formed in said slide panel and extending into said extension flap, said binder elements projecting through said slots for securing said slide panel in pivotal relation between the rear panel and second support section, said slide panel being slidably movable with respect to the cover and rear panels and said easel support assembly for location thereabove when said hinge section of said easel support assembly is disposed in an easel supporting position, wherein said slide panel defines an upper support section for receiving said looseleaf insert sheets thereagainst.

2. In a looseleaf binder as set forth in claim 1, a flap, one end of which is pivotally joined to said second support section of the hinge section, the other end of said flap being free for movement to a selected support position, said flap being normally located in surface engaging relation with the second support section to which it is joined, wherein a closed position is defined therefor, means engaging the free end of said flap for securing the flap in the closed position thereof, said flap being pivotally movable from the closed position to a position wherein it is inclined with respect to said second support section, thereby defining a stand for the looseleaf binder.

3. In a looseleaf binder as set forth in claim 2, a flexible portion secured to the free end of said flap and to the panel to which the flap is pivotally connected, said flexible portion limiting the pivotal movement of said flap when it is moved to the inclined supporting position.

4. In a looseleaf binder as set forth in claim 1, the ends of said slots in said slide panel defining limits for restricting the sliding movement thereof when said slide panel is moved to the upper support position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,217 12/1912 Shafer 28l33 1,635,420 7/1927 Johnson 28l-33 1,784,736 12/1930 Lear 281-33 2,093,160 9/1937 'Steinthal 281-33 2,146,387 2/1939 Turnbull 28l33 2,208,213 7/ 1940 Ericson 28l33 2,285,234 6/ 1942 Tauber.

2,490,356 12/ 1949 Hummel 28133 X 2,687,313 8/1954 Pisano 281-33 X JEROME SCI-INALL, Primary Examiner. 

